Detachable joint for toy house



A. G. M NEILL DETACHABLE JOINT FOR TOY HOUSE July 8, 1958 Original Filed Oct. 21, 1952 INVENTOR. AL BERT GEO/P65 Mc/VE/LL W H /S ATTORNEYS.

United rates 2334191? l a'tentecl July 8, 1958 DETACHAELE JOINT FOR TOY HDUfild Albert George McNeil], Maple Glen, l a.

Continuation of application Serial No. ElfilW, @etoher 21, 1952. This application July 16, 1%6, Serial No. 597,903

4 Claims. (Cl. iii- 36) The present invention relates to joints for toy houses and is concerned primarily with a joint designed to detachably secure the walls of a toy house in assembled relation. This application is a continuation of application Serial No. 316,007, filed October 21, 1952, now abancloned.

in the patent to McNeill, Number 2,600,900, dated June l7, 1952, there is illustrated and described a toy house of the type with which the present invention is concerned. This toy house embodies the following characteristics:

In the first place, it is of the knock-down type; that is, the several walls and roof members are adapted to be either assembled or disassembled. In the second instance, the various elements are made from a synthetic plastic; and finally, the joints which secure the walls in assembled relation comprise frictionally interfitting lugs.

'loy houses of the type disclosed in the McNeill patent are now meeting with widespread approval by the purchasing public. Not only are these toy houses used by children for amusement and educational purposes, but they are also utilized for displays. Thus, they are put underneath Christmas trees about toy railroads and similar places.

it is believed that this widespread popularityof these toy houses is due to the nature of the joint which detachably secures the walls in assembled relation. This joint, which is established by the frictionally interfitting lugs, is easily made and broken, and when established securely, holds the walls in assembled relation.

While highly advantageous over all, the device of the above-mentioned patent is limited in certain respects. For example, the interfitting lugs are necessarily exposed to view from the exterior of an assembled toy building, as the lugs extend from the edges of the building walls, lying both in the plane of the wall and outward of the outer wall face. The thus exposed interfitting lugs have been advantageously employed to simulate building blocks, and thus enhance the realistic simulation of a masonry building. However, in the simulation of other types of buildings, such as wood, stucco, and others, the external exposure to view of the interfitting lugs has heretofore presented an insurmountable obstacle. That is, it was impossible to design toy buildings having the joint structure of the above-mentioned patent to simulate a complete variety of buildings, as the exposed corner joint is incompatible with many types of architectural design. Moreover, the device of the above-mentioned patent is even limited in the simulation of building-block-type houses, as the necessary dimensions of the interfitting lugs cannot always be properly proportioned relative to the size of the building.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide a joint construction for toy buildings which overcomes the above-mentioned dilficulties, and which is entirely concealed from view in the assembled toy, so as to allow complete freedom of external design and the resultant simulation of an extremely wide variety of architectural types. 7

As a more particular object, the present invention contemplates the provision of a wall joint for use in a toy building, which joint is located entirely interiorly of the building, so as to in no way present to external View any visual indication of the joint which might limit external configuration or decoration of the building walls.

The present invention has in view as another objective the provision, in a toy house of the character aforesaid, of a detachable joint of the frictionally interfitting lug type which is characterized by the fact that the lugs are hollow. When it is considered that the walls and the lugs which are molded integrally therewith, are made of synthetic plastic having properties of compressibility, resiliency and elasticity, it is evident that the hollow construction in the lugs further enhances these properties; thus, each lug may be made slightly larger than the recess in which it is to be received; and, due to the aforementioned properties of the synthetic plastic, coupled with the hollow construction, the lug will be slightly deformed so as to permit of its reception in the recess.

Due to the fact that the joint is of the frictionally interfitting lug type, it is desirable that the engaging faces of the lugs be continuous and uninterrupted. Thus, another object of the invention is to provide, in a joint of the character indicated, interfitting lugs of a hollow construction provided by recesses which open on the end faces of the lugs rather than any of the meeting faces.

Due to the particular character of a frictionally interfitting lug joint, it is an absolute requirement that the several lugs on one wall element be inserted in the recesses between. the lugs of the other well element. In order to facilitate this insertion, the invention has as still another object, the provision, in a joint of the type noted, of lugs having flat meeting faces and rounded corners which facilitate the insertion.

Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention, such as arise in connection with carrying out the above-noted ideas in a practical embodiment, will in part become apparent and in part be hereinafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of the two walls of a toy house which are detachably assembled by the joint of this invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the corner where the joint is established.

Figure 3 is a detailed perspective taken on an enlarged scale showing the two walls in right-angular relation just before assembly; and

Figure 4 is a view in front elevation showing the two walls as separated in the same plane.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference characters take corresponding numbers, and first more particularly to Figure 1, an end wall of a toy house is therein illustrated and designated 10, with a side wall being indicated at ll. It is to be clearly understood that the walls 10 and Ill and the lugs to be later described, which are molded integrally therewith, may be made from any TV, A. 1 wi l :11

requirements, as also will polystyrene, which is the preferred material.

The wall 1% has an end edge at 12, while the wall 11 has an end edge at 13. When the walls are assembled, the end edge 12 abuts the inner face of the wall adja cent to its end edge 13 as is clearly depicted in Figure 2.

Extending inwardly from the inner face ofthe wall 10 is a plurality of lugs, each of which is referred to in its entirety by the reference character L. Each of these lugs L is of a hollow, rectangular formation, with the base thereof integrally joined to the wall 10. Thus, each lug L has substantially parallel upper and lower faces 14 and 15, side faces 16 and 17, and an end face 18. The hollow construction is provided by a recess 19 that opens onto the end face 18.

It is notable that the lugs L which are formed on the walls 10 have side faces 16 which lie in substantially the same plane at the end edge 12 of the wall 10. Thus, these side faces 16 are llush with the end edge 12. it is also notable that each of the four corners of the lug are rounded as indicated at 20.

Extending inwardly from the inner face of the wall 11 is a plurality of lugs L The lugs L in themselves have all of the same structural characteristics as the lugs L, the only difference between the two being in the location of the lugs L relative to the end edge 13 of the wall 11. Thus, the side faces 16 of the lugs L are spaced from the end edge 13 of the wall 11 a distance substantially corresponding to the thickness of the wall it). This permits of the assembled relation in which the end edge 12 of the wall 10 abuts the inner face of the wall Ill which is illustrated in Figure 2.

llt is evident that the lugs L on the wall it) are arranged in spaced relation with the distance between each pair of lugs being substantially equal to the distance between the upper and lower faces of the lugs L In this connection, it might be noted that the spacing may be very slightly less than the thickness of the lug L so as to require a slight amount of compression or deformation of the latter when it is inserted in this spacing. With such an arrangement, a good frictional interfit is provided for.

Conversely, the lugs L on the wall 11 are spaced apart a distance substantially corersponding to the thickness of the lugs L.

It is evident that when the walls 10 and 11 are to be assembled, the lugs L, are inserted in the spaces between the lugs L and vice versa. This insertion is facilitated by the rounded corners 20; and, as the insertion is effected, the relative dimensioning of the lugs, coupled with their hollow construction and the properties of the synthetic plastic from which they are made, causes the lugs to be deformed to the extent necesary to permit of the insertion and thus establish a good frictional interfit.

It is evident that the joint may be broken by simply applying sufiicient force to overcome a frictional interfit.

While a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is hereinbefore set forth, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact materials, constructions, and design illustrated and described, because various modifications of these details may be pro vided in putting the invention into practice within the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a toy building, a pair of simulated building walls arranged in angular relation with respect to each other with one edge of one wall abutting the inner face of the other wall and the outer face of said one wall substantially flush with one edge of said other wall, a first group of spaced lugs fixed on and projecting inward from the inner face of said one wall each located entirely on the inner side of said one wall with one side flush with said one edge of said one wall, said one sides of said lugs thus abutting the inner face of said other wall, and a second group of spaced lugs fixed on and projecting inward from the inner face of said other wall each located entirely on the inner side of said other wall with the outer edge surfaces of said second group of lugs being spaced from the edge of the wall by which they are carried a distance equal to the thickness of said one wall and extending frictionally between an adjacent pair of lugs of said first group in abutting engagement with the inner face of said one wall, whereby said lugs cooperate with each other and said walls to releasably connect the latter together while being totally concealed from view.

2. A toy building according to claim 1, wherein each of said lugs is formed with a recess opening through the inner lug face to substantially hollow the respective lug, whereby said lugs are alforded resilience increasing their frictional engagement.

3. A toy building according to claim 1, each of said lugs being substantially rectangular in shape with the facing surfaces of adjacent lugs of each group being in sub stantial parallelism, whereby said lugs are adapted to be interenga ged and disengaged by relative movement of said groups in only a single direction, to thereby substantially reduce the likelihood of inadvertent separation of interengaged lugs.

4. In a toy building, a. pair of simulated building walls arranged in angular relation with respect to each other with one edge of one wall abutting the inner face of the other wall and the outer face of said one wall substantially flush with one edge of said other wall, a first group of spaced lugs projecting inward from the inner face of said one wall substantially'normal to the latter and each located entirely on the inner side of said one wall, said lugs each being of a generally rectangular cross section having rounded corners in a plane parallel to said one Wall with one side flush with said one edgeof said one wall and the facing surfaces of adjacent lugs being in substantial parallelism with each other and normal to said one lug sides, said one sides of said lugs thus abutting the inner face of said other wall, each of said lugs being formed with a recess opening through the inner lug face to substantially hollow the respective lug and afford increased resilience to said lugs, and a second group of spaced lugs projecting inwardly from the inner face of said other wall substantially normal to the latter and each located entirely on the inner side of said other wall and spaced from the side edge of the wall by which they are carried a distance equal to the thickness of said one wall, the lugs of said second group each being of a generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration having rounded corners in a plane parallel to said other wall with one side adjacent to and spaced inward from said one edge of said other wall and the facing surfaces of adjacent lugs being in substantial parallelism with each other and normal to said one sides of the last-mentioned lugs, the lugs of said second group each being formed with a recess opening through its inner face to substantially hol low the respective lug for increased resilience, the lugs of. said second group each extending frictionally between an adjacent pair of lugs of said first group in abutting engagement with theinner face of said one wall, whereby said first and second groups of lugs cooperate with each other in said walls to releasably connect the latter together while being totally concealed from view.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,610,121 Dickinson Dec. 7, 1926 2,100,658 Finch Nov. 30, 1937 2,256,791 Schroeder Sept. 23, 1941 2,426,326 Tooms Aug. 26, 1947 2,600,900 McNeill June 17, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 591,341 Great Britain Aug. 14, 194-7 

